In The Media
Press releases and news articles help educate the public and policy-makers about the research
findings of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research. Scroll down to see a selected list of
press releases. Click here or on the links on the left to read articles in the media about the work
of the Institute.
Press Releases
Historic Day for Black African Jews
First Ever Gathering of African Jewish Communities
Contact:
Diane Tobin, Director, Be'chol Lashon & Associate Director, IJCR
Jenna Ferer, Research Associate, IJCR
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
www.bechollashon.org
San Francisco - (July 10, 2008) - The Pan-African Jewish Alliance (PAJA) is holding its first multi-national meeting on July 11, 2008 with participants from Jewish communities in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and the United States. The representatives from African Jewish communities are gathering in Uganda to celebrate with Rabbi Gershom Sizomu on the occasion of his installation as community rabbi by Conservative rabbis from the United States. ...more
150 Ugandans and Kenyans Convert to Judaism
Group Joins Growing Community of Black African Jews
Contact:
Diane Tobin, Director, Be'chol Lashon & Associate Director, IJCR
Jenna Ferer, Research Associate, IJCR
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
www.bechollashon.org
San Francisco - (July 9, 2008) - Over 150 Ugandans and Kenyans will formally convert to Judaism in a ceremony to be held this week in the village of Nabogoye near Mbale, Uganda. They join a community of 800 Abayudaya Jews led by Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, who was recently ordained at American Jewish University, a seminary of Conservative Judaism in Los Angeles, California, through a fellowship from Be'chol Lashon. ...more
New Media Award in Jewish Diversity
NPR Commentator and Duluth News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Robin Washington is First Recipient
Contact:
Diane Tobin, Director, Be'chol Lashon & Associate Director, IJCR
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D., President, IJCR
Jenna Ferer, Research Associate, IJCR
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
www.bechollashon.org
San Francisco - (May 28, 2008) - Robin Washington, the editorial page editor of Minnesota's Duluth News Tribune and a television producer and National Public Radio commentator, is the first recipient of the Be'chol Lashon Media Award established to honor excellence in coverage of the ethnic and racial diversity of world Jewry. The purpose is to give recognition to journalists and others covering the wide diversity of Jewish ethnicity. ...more
Rabbi From Uganda Ordained - First Ever in the United States
Contact:
Diane Tobin, Director, Be'chol Lashon & Associate Director, IJCR
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D., President, IJCR
Jenna Ferer, Research Associate, IJCR
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
www.bechollashon.org
San Francisco - (May 14, 2008) - On May 19th, Gershom Sizomu will become the first black rabbi from sub-Saharan Africa to be ordained from an American rabbinic school. He will return home to rural Uganda in June 2008 to lead his Jewish community called the Abayudaya ("people of Judah") and to open a school to train rabbis to serve growing Jewish communities throughout Africa. ...more
Black, Latino, and Asian Jews From Around the Globe Meet in San Francisco
Contact:
Diane Tobin or Jenna Ferer
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
V. 415 386 2604
Jenna@JewishResearch.org
San Francisco, CA (May 1, 2008) – Racially and ethnically diverse Jewish leaders from all over the Jewish world are meeting from May 2-5 in San Francisco. The gathering is sponsored by Be’chol Lashon, which in Hebrew means, “In Every Tongue.” This year’s participants will focus on issues about conversion to Judaism. Countries represented include Spain, Portugal, France, Brazil, Uganda, and South Africa, among others. ...more
Jewish Organizations Shut Out From Philanthropists Largest Gifts
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
Jenna Ferer
Research Associate, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
San Francisco – (January 7, 2008) According to a new study released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), Jewish individuals and foundations in the United States gave 95% of their dollars from gifts of $10 million or more to secular causes and 5% to Jewish causes between 2001-2003. This compares to 6% between 1995-2000. The study conducted by Gary A. Tobin and Aryeh K. Weinberg examined over 1,000 gifts of $1 million or more, representing nearly $7 billion, the largest sample of mega-gifts made by Jews ever assembled. ...more
Philanthropy's Largest Gifts Go to Colleges and Universities Religion and Human Services Are Almost Shut Out
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
Jenna Ferer
Research Associate, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
(415) 386-2604
San Francisco – (December 11, 2007) According to a new study released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), higher education, health, and cultural arts organizations receive the lion’s share of the largest gifts that individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute to American philanthropy. Higher education received nearly half of the dollars from gifts of $10 million or more. Gary A. Tobin and Aryeh K. Weinberg, the study’s authors, analyzed over 8000 gifts of $1 million or more made between 2001-2003. ...more
Do Jewish Federations Need Radical Reformation?
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
San Francisco – (November 6, 2007) Jewish federations need to change if they are going to remain a dominant force in Jewish philanthropy, according to a new policy paper released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR). The essay challenges federations to ask hard questions about their mission, purpose and operations, and examine the "nuts and bolts, structure, and mechanics of the federation itself." ...more
Jewish Foundations Give Generously to America's Charities
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
San Francisco – (October 9, 2007) According to a new study released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), a sample of the largest and most prominent Jewish foundations in the United States gave 79% of their dollars to secular causes and 21% to Jewish causes in recent years. The study conducted by Gary A. Tobin and Aryeh K. Weinberg, covered approximately 50 foundations established by Jews, representing every region in the United States and over $17 billion in assets. ...more
Profiles of the American University / Volume I: Political Beliefs & Behavior of College Faculty
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
San Francisco – (May 7, 2007) According to a two-year study released today by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), 53% of non-Evangelical university faculty say they hold cool or unfavorable views of Evangelical Christians – the only major religious denomination to be viewed negatively by a majority of faculty. Only 30% of faculty hold positive views of Evangelicals, 56% of faculty in social sciences and humanities departments hold unfavorable views. Results were based on a nationally representative online survey of 1,269 faculty members at over 700 four-year colleges and universities. Margin of error is +/- 3%. ...more
Survey Shows Pervasive "Groupthink" on American Campuses
Nearly 1 of 3 American Faculty Cited U.S. as One of World's Most Dangerous Nations
Contact:
Gary A. Tobin, Ph.D.
President, Institute for Jewish & Community Research
press@jewishresearch.org
Noam Neusner
Neusner Communications
noam@neusner.com
(202) 903-2463
San Francisco - (October 17, 2006) According to a survey released today by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research, 63% of university faculty say colleagues are reluctant to express their true opinions when those opinions contradict dominant views on campus...more
PDF of Press Release
IJCR Applauds U.S. Civil Rights Commission for
Defending Civil Rights of Jewish Students
Contact:
Scott Rubin, Institute for Jewish and Community Research
scottr@jewishresearch.org
415-386-2604
Garen Singer, Neusner Communications
gsinger@neusner.com
202-903-2463
Civil Rights Agency Responds to IJCR's Evidence of Harassment of Jewish Students on Campuses
San Francisco -- (April 3, 2006) The Institute for Jewish and Community Research praised the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which today affirmed that anti-Semitism on college campuses is a significant problem and said Jewish students should be protected by the Department of Education, and if necessary, by Congress from discrimination and abuse. ...more
PDF of Press Release
International & Multiracial Gathering Celebrates Ethnic Diversity of Jewish Community
Contact:
Scott Rubin
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
(415) 386-2604
scottr@jewishresearch.org
San Francisco, CA (February 9, 2006) - On February 17-20, 2006 the Be'chol Lashon International Think Tank will bring together Jewish community leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Australia, Europe, Israel, and the United States to celebrate the ethnic and racial diversity of the Jewish community. (Be'chol Lashon is Hebrew for "In Every Tongue.") The four-day gathering in the San Francisco Bay Area will build from the analysis and conclusions of noted scholar Gary A. Tobin, and co-authors Diane Tobin and Scott Rubin, who documented in the acclaimed book, In Every Tongue: The Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the Jewish People, that Jews are far more diverse than commonly believed. ...more
PDF of Press Release
It Sounds Better In Amharic!
Ethiopian-Israeli Actor Brings His Acclaimed One-Man Show to the Bay Area
Contact:
Hallie Baron
Director, Marketing Communications
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
(415) 512-6429
hallieb@sfjcf.org
San Francisco, CA (February 2, 2006) - In celebration of Black History Month and the Ethiopian-Jewish community, Ethiopian-Israeli Actor Yossi Vassa brings his one-man show, "It Sounds Better In Amharic," to the Bay Area for several performances, February 11 through February 20, 2006. After each performance, Vassa will be talking to the audience and answering questions. Sponsored by the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, in partnership with Be'chol Lashon, a program of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research, "It Sounds Better In Amharic" is not only entertaining and moving, but also educates audiences on the enriching cultural impact Ethiopian Jews have had on Israeli culture. ...more
PDF of Press Release
New Book Exposes Pervasive Anti-Semitism in U.S. Higher Education
The UnCivil University Examines How the American University Has Become a Haven for Hatred and Presents Policy Solutions to Counteract this Disturbing Trend
Contact:
Scott Rubin
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
(415) 386-2604
scottr@jewishresearch.org
Washington, DC (November, 29, 2005) - The Institute for Jewish & Community Research announced today the release of The UnCivil University by Dr. Gary Tobin. The book exposes how American universities have become politicized institutions where ideological bias often trumps good scholarship. The book examines the ideology and expression of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism on campus as an example of the systemic ills in higher education, and presents policy solutions to combat this problem. ...more
PDF of Press Release
Dr. Gary Tobin Hosts Press Conference to Present Study Finding Pervasive Anti-Semitism in American Higher Education
Event Comes Day Before Dr. Tobin to Testify Before U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights
Contact:
Scott Rubin
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
(415) 386-2604
scottr@jewishresearch.org
WASHINGTON -- (Nov. 15, 2005) WHAT: Dr. Gary Tobin, president of the Institute for Jewish & Community
Research, will be hosting a press conference to discuss findings from his
latest book, The UnCivil University: Politics and Propaganda in American
Education. The event comes one day before Dr. Tobin is scheduled to testify
before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights regarding the pervasive problem of
anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses. This marks the first time the
Commission is examining this issue. ...more
New Research Finds 20% of Jewish America
Is Ethnically and Racially Diverse
Study shows the increase in diverse Jews mirrors the changing racial and religious character of America
Contact:
Noam Neusner, Neusner Communications
Email: noam@neusner.com
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
202-674-0738
San Francisco -- (September 8, 2005) New research debunks the commonly held view that America's Jews are a monolithic people of exclusively white European ancestry. In their new book, In Every Tongue (Institute for Jewish & Community Research, $25, 251 pages) noted scholar Gary A. Tobin and co-authors Diane Tobin and Scott Rubin show that American Jews are a multiracial people -- perhaps the most diverse people in history. ...more
PDF of Press Release
Even without Disaster Relief, American Mega-Generosity Far Exceeds That of Other Nations
Upcoming Study Shows that American Private Giving Sets Trends for Government Spending
Dr. Gary Tobin: 415 386-2604
Email: GATobin@JewishResearch.org
Institute for Jewish & Community Research
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 13, 2005
An upcoming study, to be published in full in spring 2005 by the San Francisco-based Institute for Jewish & Community Research, finds that the top 6% of annual American charitable contributions exceeds the combined efforts of all other nations to aid victims of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami. ...more
PDF of full report
Archived Press Releases
First-ever Concert of African & African-American Jewish Music
Grammy-nominated Ugandan singers join Jewish gospel-style choir from Philadelphia for a stirring evening of song and celebration.
February 4, 2005, Dr. Gary Tobin: (415) 386-2604
An unforgettable evening of uplifting and eclectic songs is on the bill for a concert celebrating Jewish diversity and honoring Black History Month at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, Sunday, February 20, 2005. ...more
PDF of Press Release
PDF of Concert Flyer
New Survey Shows Sharp Increase in the Number of Americans with No Religious Identity
Study also finds that many raised with multiple religions
have no religion as adults.
September 21, 2004, Dr. Gary Tobin: (415) 386-2604
When asked to name their religion, sixteen percent (16%) of American adults, or 34 million people, now decline to choose a church or denomination, up from less than ten percent (10%) in the early 1990s. . ...more
PDF of full report
New Study: The future of the Jewish community depends on better recruitment and retention of professionals
Existing Jewish communal professionals also find career growth, support, and training lacking
August 31, 2004, Dr. Gary Tobin: 415 386-2604
As many as 50% of Jewish educators, managers, and other communal professionals leave their organizations within the first five years of employment, threatening the long-term viability of the Jewish community, according to a new report released bythe Institute for Jewish & Community Research. ...more
“The Passion of the Christ” Having Unexpected
Impact:
Film and Surrounding Debate Might Be Lessening Hostility Toward Jews
San Francisco, CA, March 15, 2004
Although 24% of Americans familiar with Mel Gibson’s “The
Passion of the Christ” say that Jews alive at the time
were most responsible for Christ’s crucifixion, less
than two percent of Americans blame Jews of today...more
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